Bertelsmann reports increased revenue and profit in first nine months of 2012

  • Revenues increase to €11.4 billion
  • Operating EBIT improves to €1.1 billion
  • Group profit rises to €528 million

Bertelsmann, the international media group, reports a year-on-year increase in revenues and group profit after the first nine months of the 2012 fiscal year. Group revenues from continuing operations increased by 5.7 percent to €11.4 billion during the reporting period (previous year: €10.8 billion). Organic growth, adjusted for portfolio and currency effects, was 4.0 percent. Operating EBIT increased by 5.8 percent to €1,095 million (previous year: €1,035 million). Return on sales was 9.6 percent (previous year: 9.6 percent). Group profit increased significantly to €528 million (previous year: €377 million) during the reporting period, thanks to lower special items.

Bertelsmann Chairman & CEO Thomas Rabe comments: “We are satisfied with our business performance during the first nine months of the year. Bertelsmann is growing organically, profitability remains high, and we are making good progress on reshaping the group. We continue to expect moderate revenue growth and a continued high Operating EBIT for the full year. Group profit will be impacted in particular by special items from the print business and several direct-to-customer businesses as well as from our operations in southern Europe. Also, the subdued economic outlook and the Euro crisis make it difficult to predict our future performance at this point.”

Overview of figures (€ million, continuing operations)

January 1, 2012 – September 30, 2012

January 1, 2011 – September 30, 2011

Consolidated revenues (from continuing operations)

11,420

10,808

Operating EBIT by division

Corporate/consolidation

Operating EBIT (from continuing operations)

1,162


(67)

1,095

1,090


(55)

1,035

Special items

(21)

(69)

EBIT

1,074

966

Financial result

(284)

(302)

Earnings before taxes from continuing operations

790

664

Income taxes

(260)

(181)

Earnings after taxes from continuing operations

530

483

Earnings after taxes from discontinued operations

(2)

(106)

Group profit or loss

528

377

attributable to: Bertelsmann shareholders

433

274

attributable to: non-controlling interests

95

103


Investments

447

577


Balance as of September 30, 2012

Balance as of December 31, 2011

Net financial debt

1,702

1,809

Economic debt*

5,241

4,913

Employees (headcount)

(at continuing operations)

103,018

102,752


The corresponding figures for the previous period have been adjusted in accordance with IFRS 5.

*Net financial debt plus provisions for pensions, profit participation capital and present value of operating leases (continuing operations).

About Bertelsmann

Bertelsmann is an international media company whose core divisions encompass television (RTL Group), book publishing (Random House), magazine publishing (Gruner + Jahr), services (Arvato), and printing (Be Printers) in some 50 countries. In 2011, the company’s businesses, with their more than 100,000 employees, generated revenues of €15.3 billion. Bertelsmann stands for a combination of creativity and entrepreneurship that empowers the creation of first-rate media, communications, and service offerings to inspire people around the world and to provide innovative solutions for customers.

For further questions, please contact:

Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA

Markus Harbaum

Tel.: 0 52 41 – 80 888 55

markus.harbaum@bertelsmann.de

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